Trade

As election season approaches, and global crises in Greece and elsewhere intensify, U.S. foreign policy is in a state of drift that puts the United States at the risk of falling behind its rivals, says Eurasia Group President Ian Bremmer.

Renewing America

As Congress debates whether to grant President Obama authority to complete the most ambitious trade agenda in a generation, the most important organized voice for America’s workforce is once again in a familiar place — standing outside, screaming for lawmakers to stop.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe addressed the U.S. Congress on April 29, 2015, in a speech titled "Toward an Alliance of Hope." He discussed U.S.-Japan relations after World War II, the U.S. rebalance to Asia, and trade initiatives like the Trans Pacific Partnership.

On April 23, 2015, Secretary of State John Kerry delivered remarks at the Atlantic Council's Conference on Trade and National Security. He discussed the Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015 (TPA-2015) and why he supports the Trans Pacific Partnership and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership.

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and House Ways and Means Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) introduced this legislation on April 16, 2015. The legislation allows the White House to continue pursuing trade deals such as the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) and Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (T-TIP) and allows Congress to vote on the treaties.

As supporters of the Trans-Pacific Partnership try to round up backers, they increasingly emphasise the geopolitical case for concluding a deal. But too often they overstate the case—and, in doing so, generate real geopolitical risks of their own, while also jeopardising the agreement they seek.

Renewing America

The scorecard infographic and accompanying progress report, "Trading Up: U.S. Trade and Investment Policy," analyzes the overall health of the U.S. economy by focusing on shifts in global trade and foreign direct investment in the United States.

The United States is currently pursuing two of the largest trade deals in history, one with Asia and the other with the European Union, but concerns persist over the effects of trade on employment, inequality, national sovereignty, and safety standards.

"The Trans-Pacific Partnership would help most Americans economically and serve the country's strategic aims, and deserves the support of Congress," write CFR President Richard N. Haass and former deputy Treasury secretary Roger C. Altman.

Chinese President Xi Jinping announced this initiative in 2013, which aims to connect countries along the original Silk Road and other maritime nations. The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank will lend to countries working on these infrastructure and trade projects. On March 28, 2015, the China's Foreign Ministry released the first edition of the initiative's joint vision and actions.

On January 26, 2015 at the U.S.-India Business Council Summit, President Obama lays out new U.S. initiatives to increase investment and trade in India, related to removing barriers to investment, technology transfer, and inclusive growth.

The U.S.-Mexico High Level Economic Dialogue was created by U.S. President Barack Obama and Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto in May 2013 and the first cabinet-level meeting was convened September 2013 in Mexico City. Vice President Biden hosted the January 6, 2015 meeting in Washington. Participating U.S. agencies include Departments of State and Commerce, and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. In 2015, strategic goals are focused on energy; modern borders; work force development; regulatory cooperation; partnering in regional and global leadership; and stakeholder engagement.

On November 10, 2014, trade ministers updated the leaders of countries participating in Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations. Major issues include building trade in a digital economy, encouraging technological advances and providing access to medicine, and ensuring environmental protection and labor rights.

Shannon K. O'Neil, CFR's senior fellow for Latin America studies, discusses the North American Free Trade Agreement at twenty and policy recommendations for the region, as part of CFR's Academic Conference Call series.

CFR Experts Guide

The Council on Foreign Relations' David Rockefeller Studies Program—CFR's "think tank"—is home to more than seventy full-time, adjunct, and visiting scholars and practitioners (called "fellows"). Their expertise covers the world's major regions as well as the critical issues shaping today's global agenda. Download the printable CFR Experts Guide.

The authors argue that the United States has responded inadequately to the rise of Chinese power and recommend placing less strategic emphasis on the goal of integrating China into the international system and more on balancing China's rise.

Campbell evaluates the implications of the Boko Haram insurgency and recommends that the United States support Nigerian efforts to address the drivers of Boko Haram, such as poverty and corruption, and to foster stronger ties with Nigerian civil society.

2014 Annual Report

Learn more about CFR’s mission and its work over the past year in the 2014 Annual Report. The Annual Report spotlights new initiatives, high-profile events, and authoritative scholarship from CFR experts, and includes a message from CFR President Richard N. Haass.Read and download »